Apparatus for casting pig metal.



no. 629,903 Patented Aug. 1, I899.

J. M. HABTMAN. V APPARATUS FOR CASTING PIG METAL.

A lication am m 24, was.

(" D 5 Shouts-Sheet I INVENTOR:

No. 629.903. Patentd Aug. I, I899.

J. M. HARTMAN. APPARATUS FOR CASTING PIGIETAL.

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

No. 629,903. Patented Aug. i, I899. .1. m. HARTMAN.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING PIG METAL.

(Application filed m 24, 189B.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(In Model.)

No. 629,903. Patented Aug. l, I899.

J. M. HABTMAN.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING PIG METAL.

5 sheets-shear -4 A lication filed m 24, 1898.)

(In Model.)

No. 629,903. Patented Aug.- I, 1891-1 7 J. m. HARTMAN.

APPARATUS FOR CASTING PIG METAL.

(Application fllad my 24, 1898.)

5 Sheets-Shoat 5.

(No Modai.)

iNVENTOR: lilf u "m: mums mus 0o. woraumou wasmua'rcm, D. c.

UNI ED STATES:

PATEN T OFFICE.

JOHN M. HARTMAN, Oh PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

APPARATUSFOR CASTING PlG METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No, 629,903, dated August1, 1899.

' Application filed M y 24,1898. Serial racemes. dra as.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it'known that 1, JOHN M. HARTMAN, of Philadelphia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Apparatus for CastingPig Metal, whereof the following. is a specification, reference beingbad to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my improvements is to provide a means for overcoming thewell-known disadvantages incident to the old method of casting pig-iron. Amongthese disad vantages are the imperfection and irregularityof. the pigs, the waste, the possibility of explosion, and the amount ofmanual labor and time required. In place of this old method Isubstitutea continuous and mechanically-even method of casting by meansof. the regular traverse of a series of molds, into which the in Fig. 3.I

and elevation of the periphery of the table, trough, and accompanyingparts.

metal is successively poured, in which it is systematically cooled, andfrom which the pig is delivered to a suitable receptacle. Many effortshave been made heretofore to devise a continuous casting device of thisgeneral character. Myinvention differs from these in many respects,which will be hereinafter pointed out, and is much more desirable,simmolds around the periphery or. the revolving table pass.

7 Certain other adjacent parts are also indicated in this plan. Figs.-i,5, and 6 are details of certain small parts appearing Fig. 7 is apartial vertical section Fig. 8 is a similar view of the correspondingparts in a different circumferential position. Fig. 9 is a sideelevation of a'portion of the periphery of thetable with accompanyingpart-s. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal sectionin assumed straight projectionthrouglrthe center of a portion of the annular trough. Fig. ll is avertical section'of the pouring apparatus,

showing a number of the molds in similar section. Fig. 12 is a similarsection of the funnel shown in Fig. 11 at right angles thereto. Fig. 13is aplan view of the discharge end of a the gutter. Fig. ii isacross-section of the same.

A, Fig. 1., is anupright tubular post with a 1 step-bearing a at itstop, upon which is piv-,

oted a revolving axle b,'fitted to the upper end of a large dependingsleeve B, which surrounds and revolves upon the postA. The lower edge ofthis sleeve has a second conical adjustable bearing h near the bottom ofthe post. Surrounding the sleeve, near its lower end, is adisk G, towhich are secured the inner ends of aseries of I-loeams D, which radiatefrom ithorizon-tally in all directions. The outer extremity of each ofthese beams is supported by a stay or tie rod (1, yoked to its outer endand passed up and fastened to a rim at the upper end of the sleeve 13.Upon the axle b, at the top of the sleeve, is a sheave 6, through whichrotation is imparted to the sleeve and its surrounding radiating beams.The outer ends of these beams are united by means of a peripheral beamF. The entire circular structure thus formed by the disk C, the radialbeams D, and the peripheral beam F, forming a large wheel, will behereinafter spoken of asthe revolving table.

Between each of the radial beams and near their outer extremities aremounted a pair of depending bearings G G, Fig. 7, of which theoutermost, G, depends centrally from the peripheral beam F. Theinnermost, G,'spans the space between the beams a little nearer thecenter of ,the table and depends to the same level as the bearing G.Within each pair of bearings revolves the shaft 9, which carries at itsinner extremitya pinion g; The outer extremity of each of these shaftscarries a mold-frame H, the shape of which is best'seen in Figs. 7, S,and 9 of the drawings. This mold-frame is, roughly speaking, an open+work metal basket suspended at one side. Fronrthe point of suspensiontwo ribs h'h' divide and pass around under the space which the mold(which is somewhatboat-s'haped) is to'occupy. At their. centerand lowerpoints i'these ribs are connected bye longitudinal beam .71 forming asort of keel." In one' direction this longitudinal beam does not pass Ibeyond the'ribs, which it connects. In the other direction it passesbackward and upby using the term boat-shaped, which will servesufficiently to identify the shape mean t. Each of these molds is madeof a single plate of rolled wrough t-iron or steel by being struck up ordie-forged therefrom. A mold constructed from rolled wrought-iron orsteel possesses a fibrous as distinguished from a crystalline structure,which for the purposes of my invention is important. Likewise for thepurposes of cooling, which I am about to describe, it is necessary thatthe mold shall be made of comparatively thin plates of wrought iron orsteel. I have found that three-eighths of an inch is a desirablethickness for my purposes, and when I speak in the claims of acomparatively thin plate I refer to a plate which does not vary greatlyfrom the thickness which I have given. These molds fit snugly within themold-frames and are detachably secured therein, by which I mean thatthey rest in their frames securely enough to be held in place under allthe ordinary exigencies of operation and yet are capable of beingdetached and removed from their frames without the aid of tools or otherspecial parts and without stopping the machine. As I have shown theconstruction in the drawings, the removable molds are slipped into theframe at the open end, being retained in their place by smalloverhanging lugs i i, Figs. 7 and 8, formed upon the inner edge of thetransverse ribs h h. In order to further retain the molds in place evenwhen the mold-frame is revolving with the shaft from which it depends,the longitudinal beam 72 which has been likened to a keel, carries atits extremity a boss, through which runs an upright pin i, which may bekeyed in place at its lower end and which at its upper extremitycarriesa flanged bridge-piecej, formed with a central ridge and withoverhanging lips at one end of each flange, under which the end of themold fits snugly.

The length of the molds is such that they entirely fill the space fromframe to frame, so that the free end of the mold (which from thedirection of rotation may be termed the forward end) abuts against thetransverse piece j of the frame carrying the mold immediately in frontof it. Adepending stop K is fastened to the peripheral beam F in suchrelation to the mold-frame that the loweredge prevents the swing of themold upward in the forward direction. At one point in the travel of themold-frame as the table swings around the pinion g comes in contact witha rack Z, mounted on a fixed standard L, by means of which themold-frame is swung around rear,

end first to an inverted position, so as to discharge its contents.Immediately, however, a second inverted rack Z, mounted upon themold-frames.

same standard L, engages the opposite side of the pinion g and returnsthe mold-frame to its normal position.

Surrounding the edge of all but a comparatively small portion of therevolving table is an annular water-trough M, Fig. 3, in such positionthat the mold-frames travel within it during that portion of theirrotation which is coincident with the trough. The water trough occupiesthe greater part but not all of a circle. This construction I shallhereinafter refer to as a partial annular watertrough.

It will be noticed that the ribs h h of the mold-frames are made withlarge flaring webs. (Seen in Figs. 7 and 8.) The short portions of thetrough M, which in Fig. 3 are lettered, respectively, m, m, and m aresomewhat contracted and present in inner cross-section a shape closelycorresponding to that of the outer edges of the webs of the ribs of theOne of these contracted portions occupies either end of the trough, itsshape being shown in section in Fig. 8. The remaining portions m m ofthe annular trough are of larger size, their cross-section being shownin Fig. '7. WVater may be supplied to the trough at any convenient pointor points, such as 91. Below either end of the trough funnels n a carryoff the escape, while overflows n n are provided, respectively, for thetroughs m in. These overflows are at different levels. a is at the lowerlevel, whereby the level of the water in the portion m of the trough ismaintained sufficiently low to reach only to the bottom of the series ofmolds passing through it, while the overflow n is higher, maintainingthe water in the portion m of the trough at mold-frames in the directionof the arrow Fig. 3 acts somewhat as a continuous pump, particularly atthe contracted portions m m 072 where the webs fit the trough somewhatclosely. The exact tightness of this fit must be a matter of adjustment,depending upon the extent and position of the water-supply. At m, wherethe pumping effect is away from the open end, there is very littleescape into the funnel 17.. Through m there should be sufficient escapeto supply a liberal amount of water to the trough m without, however,allowing it to rise much above the level of its overflow. Fig. 10 showsin longitudinal section the portion m with the adjacent portions of mand m, indicating approximately the Water-levels therein. At m therewill necessarily be a large escape due to the pumping effect, to offsetwhich the supply of water to the trough must be sufficientlyabundant.

In Fig. 2 is shown in cross-section the base of a furnace having twoiron notches 0. The gutter O of the furnace bifurcates a short distancefrom the furnace, one-of the branches 0 0 leading to each of the ironnotches. The

entire gutter so formed is lined with sand.

- the continuity of the casting operation.

The discharge end of the trough is turned so as to be tangent to thecircle formed by the series of molds carried by the revolving table. Toeffectually control the flow of molten metal, the discharge end of thetrough is provided with a hinged spout P, as seen in Fig. 11, the end ofwhich maybe raised or lowered by a drum and chain with gearing,regulating the flow of metal. The joint of this hinged spout isprotected by a shield 19, Figs. 13 and 14, which covers the gapoccasioned by the hinge. This shield retains the sand in the trough andprevents leakage, while not interfering with flexibility. The lip of thespout is flanged, as seen at 19', in order to prevent the overrunning ofthe sand when the spout is lowered. Between the spout and the molds afunnel Q directs the flow of the molten metal, delivering it in the flowfrom or the chilling up of the one which is being used the other one maybe opened, the first being stopped without interfering with The rate offlow may be further accurately regulated by the hinged discharge-spoutof the gutter. From this the metal is caused to flow evenly through thefunnel Q into the molds which are passing successively beneath it byreason of the constant revolution of the table which carries them. Byreason of the longitudinal succession of the molds with reference j actas barriers to prevent the slopping over of the'metal from one mold toanother as the rotation proceeds, their central ridge accomplishing theeven shedding of the metal into one or vthe other of two adjacentmoldspass-,-

ing beneath the spout, and their flanged extremities preventing waste ofthe metal.

Cast-metal molds which have heretofore been used in continuous processesfor casting pigs are highly objectionable and, owing to theircrystalline structure, crack readily, es-

pecially if they are immersed in waterwhen they are hot. Thecomparatively thin'molds which I employ, of soft wrought-iron or lowcarbon steel, being soft and ductile, are'not cracked even by suchimmersion; butasthey are comparatively thin any continuousv flow ofmolten metal at one point ma y'm elt through It is for this reason thatthe metal the mold.

is fed successively along the length of the mold, and for. the samereason-the moldmust be cooled as qnicklyas-possible. Immedh ately,therefore, after filling the rotation of the table brings the moldbeneath a fine spray of water 7", chilling the ingot on the top, and atthe same time-as the mold-frame enters the trough in the water thereinbegins'to chill the bottom of the mold and of its ingot. The

mold passes through the entire lengthof the trough m where the water ismaintained at a uniform level of about two inches above the bottom ofthe ingot. After the bottom of the ingot is chilled the mold enters thetrough m, where the entire ingot is immersed in water. The gradualcooling from the bottom of the mold up thus effected is a point ofgreatest importance. The suddenimmersion of a molten ingot into Watercauses accidents and dangerous explosions, as is well known.

By my device of a trough withwater at varying levels I am able togradually accomplish the chilling quickly enough to carry on a continuous operation, and yet not so quickly as to be dangerous to the workmenemployed. After tray ersing the entire length of the trough the moldleaves the water and is instantly inverted by the rack-and-pinionmechanism, which has been above described, discharging the solid ingotinto any convenient receptacle which may be there placed to receive it.An incline, the position of which is indicated by the dotted lines, Fig.7, may be used to direct the fall of the ingot into its receptacle.Immediatel y the mold-frame is again righted in position by the pinionengaging the second rack. The mold next passes undera box 8, from thelower end of which proceeds a discharge-trough s. This box is filledwith plumbago or other suitable carbonaceous material which is dustedinto the mold in order to prevent the ingot from sticking. Theplumbagospout s has a curved lower section, as seen in Fig. 5, directingthe thicker coat of dust into the center of the mold. The relation ofthese parts is further shown in Fig. 6. -A proper device may be providedfor regulating the flow of the plumbago so as to measure off therequisite quantity, After dusting the frame holding the mold passesforward beneath the iron spout and is again filled with the moltenitself. During all its course the molds are 'firmlyheld in positionbythe lu'gsland' lip, which have been described. Should, however, undueheat melt or destroy oneof the molds,

it is a short and easy operation to slip another one into themold-framein place of the one destroyed. i

It will be observed ihat the mold-frames by reason of their ribbedconstruction are sulficiently stiff and. stable to prevent the moldwhich they contain from warping under the influence of the heat, so thatthe mold will always cool back into its proper shape.

The molds being" comparatively light are placed, the destruction of themold having no effect upon the mold-frame.

'130 inexpensive and, if destroyed, are readily re The point ofdischarge of. the molten metal from the I I 5 metal, from which pointthe operation repeats t spout is so arranged with reference to the restof the device that even if overflow does occur or breaking of the moldinto which pouring is going on the metal merely runs off on the groundwithout interfering with any of the machinery and also withoutpossibility of fallinginto water, which is much worse.

This advantage is obtained by making the water-trough in the shape of apartial annulus and conducting the pouring of the metal over thatportion of the annulus Where the trough is lacking. I have spoken of theadvantage of delivering the metal longitudinally along the center of themold as the latter advances. Coincident with this is the fact that theadvance of the mold is in the same direction as the How of metal fromthe spout, from which it results that the flow instead of plowing up theplumbago or other dust which has been sprinkled into' the bottom of themold tends to hold it down, thus saving the bottom.

The gradual immersion in the water, coolingfirst the bottom of the moldand ingotand afterward advancing so as to cover it, is of the highestimportance. The central sup- .port of the table frees the entireperiphery of the wheel from encumbrance with rollers or other machinery.This not only affords plenty of room for the water-trough, but isimportant for the reason that if any accident occurs at any part of therotating system the hot metal does not injure anything except possiblythe trough,and then merelyfalls upon the ground.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In an apparatus forcasting pig metal, a series of molds made of a single plate ofcomparatively thin wrought-iron or steel; 'a series of mold-frames,consisting of metallic strips, conforming internally substantially tothe shape of the mold, each of which contains one of said moldsdetachably secured therein; a spout from which molten metal may be fed;and a traversing device by which said moldframes with the molds whichthey contain are carried in continuous series beneath said spout,substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for casting pig metal, a series of molds each made ofa single plate of comparatively thin rolled wrought-iron or steel; aspout from which molten metal is fed; a horizontal traversing device bywhich said molds are carried in continuous series beneath said spout; atrough of water or other cooling liquid in the path of said molds, andthrough which their further traverse carries them without variation ofhorizontal position; means for maintaining the water in that portion ofthe trough which the molds first enter at a lower level than that atwhich it is maintained in the rest of the trough, whereby during thatportion of the traverse of the molds through thetrough which firstsucceeds their reception of metal the bottoms of the molds only areimmersed, while subsequently the entire moldswith their contents areimmersed, substantially as described.

In an apparatus for casting pig metal, the combination of a horizontalrevolving table; a series of molds carried by the periphery of saidtable, and depending therefrom; a partial annular water-troughcoextensive with paratively thin wrought-iron or steel; a series. ofmold-frames, consisting of metallic strips, conforming internallysubstantially to the shape of the mold, each of which contains one ofsaid molds detachably secured therein; a spout from which molten metalmay be fed; a traversing device by which said mold-frames with the moldswhich they contain are carried in continuous series beneath said spout;and a trough of water or other cooling liquid in the path of said moldsinto which they pass after receiving metal from the spout, substantiallyas described.

5. In an apparatus for casting pig metal,the combination of a horizontalrevolving table; a partial annular water-trough coincident with all buta part of the periphery of the revolving table; a series of mold-framescarri'ed by the periphery of the revolving table and depending therefromto a point below the level of the water in the trough; a series of moldseach made of. asingle plate of comparatively t-hin rolled wrought-ironor steel, one of which fits within and is detachably secured to each ofsaid mold-frames; a spout from which molten metal is fed into said moldssituated over that portion of the periphery of the table where thetrough islacking; and means for maintaining the water in that portion ofthe trough which the molds first enter at a lower level than that atwhich it is maintained in the rest of the trough, whereby during thatportion of the traverse of the molds through the trough which firstsucceeds their reception of the metal the bottoms of the molds only areimmersed, while subsequently the mold and its entire contents areimmersed, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for casting pig metal,the combination of a revolvingtable; a series of short shafts mounted radially thereto around theperiphery of the table; pinions upon the inner ends of said shafts; aseries of moldframes with overhanging lugs upon their in uer edges andcarried upon the outer end of each of said shafts; a series of molds oneof which is carried in and detachably secured to each mold-frame by theoverhanging lug,

said overhanging lug being absent at one end of each mold-frame wherebythe mold may be slipped in and out from that end; a spout for moltenmetal under which said molds pass in continuous succession; and twofixed racks which in'the course of the rotation of the tablesuccessively engage each pinion, one above and the other below'thepinion, the first inverting the mold and the second righting it by areverse motion, substantially as described. w

7. In an apparatus for casting pig metal, the combination of arevolving'table; a series of short shafts mounted radially theretoaround the periphery of the table; pinionsuponthe inner ends of saidshafts; a series of moldframes carried one upon the outereud of each ofthe shafts; overhanging lugs upon the inner edges of the mold-frames; aseries 01: mold-frames one of which may he slipped in beneath the lugsof each mold frame; a spout v for molten metal under which therevolution of the table carries the mold-frames with their molds incontinuous succession; and two fixed racks which successively engageeach of the 'pinions, the first inverting and the second righting eachmold in regular succession, substantially as described.

I S. In an apparatusforcastingpigmetal, the combination of ahorizontaltraversing device; a series of depending molds carried thereby; awater-trough with open extremities within the path of said mold, throughwhich the molds are successively carriedby the traversing device,theopen extremities of said trough having a conformation correspondingapproximately to that of the molds; and means for continuously supplyingwater to said trough, substantially as described.

9. Inan apparatus for casting pig metal, the

combination of a horizontal traversing device l a series of dependingmold-frames carried frames are successively carried by the traversingdevice, the open extremities of said trough having a conformationcorresponding 1 approximately to that of the Webs of the moldhaving aconformation corresponding ap-.

proximately to that of the molds; and means for continuously maintaininga supply of water in both portions of said trough and at differentlevels, substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus for casting pig metal, the combination of a seriesof molds; a gutter for the delivery of molten metal; a hinged spoutforming the discharge end of said gutter; a shield protecting the hingedjoint between the gutter and the spout forbidding the passage of themolten metal therethrough,said shield and also the gutter and spoutbeing covered with asand lining; and a traversing device whereby themolds are carried incontinuous succession beneath the delivery end ofsaid spout, substantially as described.

7 12. In an apparatus for casting pig metal, the combination of ablast-furnace having two iron notches; a bifurcated gutter, one branchofwhich extends to each of the iron notches so that the delivery fromeach of the notches occu rs from the same spout; a series of metalmolds; and a traversing device whereby the said molds are carriedbeneath said spout in regularly-timed succession, substantially asdescribed. I

' JOHN M. HARTMAN. Viitnesses: V

JAMES H. BELL, I ,G. IIERBERTIJENKINS.

